Wisconsin DOT executive fired

Published On: Aug 09 2013 01:29:24 PM CDT

MADISON, WI (AP) -

A high-ranking state Department of Transportation executive has been fired.

DOT spokesman Robert Miller said in an email statement to The Associated Press that Assistant Deputy Secretary Steven Krieser was no longer employed at the agency as of Thursday. He declined to elaborate.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Thursday that Krieser made insensitive remarks about immigrants in Facebook posts.

Gov. Scott Walker spokesman Tom Evenson said in a statement that Krieser's remarks were repugnant and unacceptable. He said Walker, a Republican, condemns Krieser's views and they don't represent the governor in any way.

Walker, a potential presidential candidate in 2016, has said the United States must remake what he calls a "cumbersome" immigration system and it makes sense to permit immigrants already here without documentation to pursue citizenship as part of a more comprehensive fix.

A message left at a possible residential listing for Krieser on Friday morning wasn't immediately returned.

Krieser made news in 2011 when word surfaced he sent an email to Division of Motor Vehicles staff telling them to issue free identification cards only if customers asked for them. The free ID option was added in a law that requires voters to show photo identification at the polls.

A Dane County judge has blocked the voter ID law from taking effect and two federal lawsuits challenging the law are pending.

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